This time of year, I often think about high school seniors poised to graduate but undecided about their future. Instead of a feeling of uncertainty, high school students should start preparing for life after graduation well before their final year. Perhaps your student is curious about a job, classes, or an internship over the summer? Maybe they’re mapping courses for next fall? Families facing any of these scenarios should consider three words: Career Technical Education (CTE).

You may have recently heard about CTE at your child’s school or in the news. Thanks to CTE, students no longer must choose between college preparation or workforce skills — they can now have both.

According to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), CTE ”provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge, and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners.”

I call CTE “learning with relevance,” because students receive real-life skills they’ll need for the workforce and/or the academic foundation to continue career studies in college.

CTE students take part in rigorous coursework, hands-on projects, and internships.

Previously called vocational education, parents may remember auto shop, woodworking, cosmetology, home economics or other titles. The new generation of CTE courses cover professions like health care, criminal justice, and information technology.

ODE reports 770 CTE programs of study available across the state, in career learning areas ranging from natural resources to arts, from communications to engineering.

Less than a third of all high school students in Oregon are engaged in CTE classes, but the numbers are growing after recent efforts to increase funding for local programs.

Besides class credits and the opportunity to “learn by doing”, there are other benefits to Career Technical Education. The graduation rate for students who take even one credit of CTE is around 92%, 15% higher than the overall rate in Oregon. Research also shows CTE students score higher on standardized tests, have better attendance, and are more likely to complete homework.

Students are often motivated to explore CTE because of the real-life relevance of offerings. This “linked learning” provides hands-on training combined with college-ready academics. CTE helps connect the dots between school and the real world for many students, answering the question, “why do I need to learn this stuff?”

Over 75% of high school graduates go on to higher education after taking career-tech coursework, notes Advance CTE, a leading national non-profit group. Other grads turn to community colleges, vocational schools, or apprenticeship programs to earn associate degrees or certifications.

Having CTE classes available is a valuable way for students to audition their career interests before they spend lots of money on college and later decide to switch professional paths. A 2017 nationwide survey of thousands of parents and students found 81% of CTE students were satisfied with their ability to get a leg up on a career, verses 44% of non-CTE students.

Another potential incentive for CTE students is bringing home a paycheck shortly after high school graduation. There’s a middle-skills job gap (positions that don’t require a bachelor’s degree) in Oregon and companies are scrambling to find qualified workers. Though Oregon’s unemployment rate is the lowest in decades, employers have record numbers of job vacancies. Three-fourths of these vacancies are hard to fill, in large part because they require a postsecondary certificate or associate degree. Job prospects span many occupations too: truck drivers, firefighters, massage therapists, nursing assistants and electricians.

As a coordinator for Oregon Connections Academy’s CTE program, I’ve noticed many students are attracted to the technical career fields. They also appreciate the scheduling flexibility available with online public school so they can participate in career exploration opportunities. This school year, we offered more than 20 Career Technical classes including Accounting, Homeland Security, and Sports Management.

The state Employment Department’s Career Explorer program (https://www.qualityinfo.org/) is a helpful resource for students to begin investigating occupations, and to discover which jobs require post-high school job training.

As workplace skills evolve, encourage your student to develop a passion for learning, embracing ideas, and new technologies. As a parent, you can also be a job coach, supporting your child on their career path and helping them develop the skills they need to succeed along the way.

John Meyer is an Oregon Connections Academy High School CTE Program Development Manager from Mulino. More information about Oregon Connections Academy is available at www.OregonConnectionsAcademy.com or by calling (800) 382-6010.